(Sports) China's Shandong Luneng secures spot in AFC Champions League quarterfinals

China's Shandong Luneng has progressed to the quarterfinals of the Asian Champions League after a tense battle in Sydney on Wednesday night.

In a final regulation minute stunner, Shandong's Hao Junmin silenced the home crowd with an amazing strike from outside the box for a two-all draw against Sydney FC, progressing to the AFC Champions League (ACL) round of eight on away goals.

Shandong could have taken the win in the 76th minute from a set penalty after defender Zac Anderson pulled forward Yang Xu to the ground, denying them an almost certain goal. Anderson was sent off on a straight red, leaving coach Graham Arnold's men to 10 for the final 13 minutes.

Diego Tardelli Martins took the shot from the spot, however keeper Vedran Janjetovic stopped the goal. Tardelli gathered the rebound, however the show-off failed to capitalize, sending the ball over the crossbar to the delight of the home crowd.

That was only one incident in an often tense battle seemingly ready to boil over into physical punches, with both sides suffering multiple yellow cards.

"It's unbelievable we missed two penalties in the home and away games in the last two rounds ... (but) at last we used our spirit, good technique and tactic to fight to the end," Shandong coach Mano Menezes told reporters post match on Wednesday.

Shandong now await a random draw to see who they face in the ACL quarterfinals.

"It's an honour for China, and also for Jinan, for our club (to progress)," Menezes said.

The Sky Blue's first came in the second minute of the match from a set shot just outside the box by midfielder Brandon O'Neill, the youngster's first senior level goal.

Shandong equalized in the 11th minute with a beautiful bit of footwork Tardelli deep in Sydney's box, linking with midfielder Walter Montillo who slotted the pill past the "great wall of Sydney" Janjetovic.

It was from here the tensely fought battle raged, with both sides aggressively testing each other's defense, but eventually went into the break one-all.

Within the first minute of second half however midfielder Ryan Grant nabbed Sydney's second in what could be the most un-Sydney FC like goal, striking the ball from a perfect set-up reminiscent of the European leagues.

Sydney needed to get a third goal to ensure a historic progression into the quarterfinal round, however were unable to capitalize on their multiple chances, dropping to 10 men in the final stages and allowing Shandong to get the equalizer and progress.

"It probably sums up our season," Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold told reporters, alluding to the dismal, yet tough local A-League season.

"You can see the difference in two quality players in Tardelli and Montillo, every time they got on the ball they were dangerous, but I couldn't be prouder of my boys. They gave everything they've got ... It took a bomb of a goal to clinch the game for them."

"(But) at the end of the day, it's disappointing to go out on away goals."

Arnold now heads into the off-season for Australian football where he will make significant changes to his side in a bid to regain local supremacy.

"We've had an exceptionally good champions league, but clear in my mind is the A-League and there will be changes," Arnold said.

"I have to look at how to get this club to the top, and hard decisions need to be made, and they will be made in the next day or so." Endit